Someone else raised the larger issue of the quality, availability, and
accepted uses of gallery seating.

I was once in a renown (not the Smithsonian) Washington, DC, museum during a
fit of excruciating back pain. It it debatable whether I should have been
there or not, but I was. I was in one of the galleries and made the mistake
of trying to lie down on one of the benches for a moment to relieve the
pain.

A guard came over, without let least bit of explanation or inquiry into my
condition, and told me I couldn't lie there. I was dressed respectably and
wasn't doing anything else to indicate I might cause trouble. Needless to
say I was not happy to be treated so unsympathetically.

I really think that museums need to balance their needs for security of the
collections and safety of all visitors with some sensitivity for individual
needs. I also think that many museums, as shown by the statements of members
of this list, do try very hard to meet the needs of their visitors.
Sometimes it's more a matter of the demeanor expressed by staff in
interacting with the public than the official policies they are trying to
enforce.

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Steven Allison-Bunnell, PhD
Senior Producer & Writer ~ Educational Web Adventures
[log in to unmask] ~ http://www.eduweb.com
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